NBC’s Andrea Mitchell Airs Plight of Military Families

NBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell examined the plight of military families raising kids with autism, interviewing military spouse Rachel Kenyon, whose husband has served multiple deployments to Afghanistan, and Peter Bell, Autism Speaks executive vice president for programs and services. On MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, Kenyon described the difficulties military families encounter in finding services for their children and the disruption caused by multiple deployments.

Bell discussed the Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act (HR.2288) which would ensure that the military’s TRICARE insurance program covers all military personnel, regardless of their duty status. As now structured, members of the military lose autism benefits for their children when they retire, even when wounded in action and medically retired. At a Congressional briefing Tuesday on the issue, Rep. John Larson of Connecticut, the sponsor of HR.2288, called the treatment of military families raising loved ones with autism “immoral.”

My son has aspergers and everyday that gets closer to husband retiring at 20 OR staying longer we look at our son and ask what will we do he will lose all his benefits and he is finally starting to make progress. Then that. Is when we pray that all things will work out in the end and answer will be given.

My husband is being medically retired from the navy and we a 4yr old boy with Autism and a 2yr old girl with PDD-NOS. It would be great if my kids could keep their insurance for ABA therapy. It really helps them and helps me.

I truly believe that is terrible. Kids with autism are always unique totally intelligent sometimes mysterious (autism). They government does not understand what families with autism are faced with. I have an autistic child, my family has no affiliation with the military. The military needs to do more for the families with autistic kids after they have retired. etc.

My husband is active duty, currently deployed. We have a six year old with autism and he has made huge progress because of his ABA therapy. I hope the military will contine benefits for those who have dependents on the spectrum, once they retire.